- We buy RAM-D(mix and damaged RAM) Grade from a minimum quantity of 1 lb. 2.RAM C Grade includes memory modules that meet the official Ohata C Grade inspection standard, regardless of brand, model, capacity, speed, or memory generation. 3.Classification is based on the module’s IC configuration, PCB construction, gold-plated contacts, component density, completeness, and physical condition—not its original market price. 4.RAM C Grade contains recoverable materials such as copper, gold, silver, palladium, nickel, and solder alloys, with the final value determined by the overall material composition. 5.Different RAM grades should be sorted and packed separately. Mixed, damaged, stripped, burned, or heavily contaminated modules may be downgraded or rejected.
RAM-D(mix and damaged RAM) Grade buying scrap price
Key Buying Introduction
Key Buying Introduction
- We buy RAM-D(mix and damaged RAM) Grade from a minimum quantity of 1 lb. 2.RAM C Grade includes memory modules that meet the official Ohata C Grade inspection standard, regardless of brand, model, capacity, speed, or memory generation. 3.Classification is based on the module’s IC configuration, PCB construction, gold-plated contacts, component density, completeness, and physical condition—not its original market price. 4.RAM C Grade contains recoverable materials such as copper, gold, silver, palladium, nickel, and solder alloys, with the final value determined by the overall material composition. 5.Different RAM grades should be sorted and packed separately. Mixed, damaged, stripped, burned, or heavily contaminated modules may be downgraded or rejected.
Buying Details of Conditions
Introduction, Construction, Components, and Recycling Value
RAM modules are commonly manufactured as long, narrow printed circuit boards fitted with semiconductor memory packages. Depending on their generation and intended application, they may appear as desktop DIMMs, laptop SO-DIMMs, server memory, or older proprietary memory modules. Typical generations include SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, and other designs. However, generation alone does not determine the recycling grade. A newer module is not automatically a higher recycling grade, and an older module is not automatically a lower grade.
The main construction of a RAM module includes:
A fiberglass and epoxy printed circuit board
Copper circuitry inside the PCB
Gold-plated or gold-finished edge contacts
Black memory IC packages
Small resistors, capacitors, and identification components
Solder joints and protective surface coatings
An SPD or EEPROM identification chip on many modules
Some server modules may also contain register, buffer, or error-correction components. Heat spreaders may be fitted to gaming, workstation, or server RAM, but these external covers do not necessarily increase the recycling value. In fact, oversized metal covers may add non-target weight and make accurate inspection more difficult.
The recycling value of RAM comes from the combined recoverable materials in its circuit board, edge contacts, components, and soldered assemblies. Gold is present mainly as a very thin finish on the contact fingers and may also exist in microscopic semiconductor bond wires. Copper is found in the internal PCB layers and conductive tracks. Small quantities of silver, palladium, nickel, tin, and other metals may also be present, depending on the module’s age and manufacturing process.
RAM C Grade normally represents a moderate or lower-middle material concentration compared with premium RAM grades. Its value is based on the entire module’s recoverable composition—not simply the visible color of the contacts or the number printed on the label.
Ohata RAM C Grade Classification and Identification Guide
Under the Ohata system, RAM C Grade is a material-based purchasing category rather than a list of individual models. Different brands and capacities may be combined within this category only when every module independently meets the C Grade standard.
The following inspection sequence should be used:
1. Confirm that the item is a RAM module
The item should be an identifiable memory PCB with the normal structure of a DIMM, SO-DIMM, or another accepted memory format. Unrelated controller boards, adapter cards, blank connector boards, and heavily stripped PCBs should not be included as RAM.
2. Examine the IC configuration
Check the number, size, arrangement, and packaging style of the memory chips. C Grade modules generally have a material configuration consistent with the official C Grade reference samples. A large number of chips does not automatically guarantee a higher grade because chip package type, PCB size, component density, and precious-metal construction must be considered together.
3. Inspect both sides
The front and rear surfaces must both be checked. Some modules have ICs on both sides, while others have components on only one side. Classification must be based on the complete module, not on a photograph of one surface.
4. Check the contact fingers
The edge contacts should be examined for excessive wear, trimming, severe corrosion, burning, or removal. Gold-colored contacts are common across many RAM grades and must not be used as the only grading indicator. Contact length, plating type, PCB construction, and overall component configuration are also important.
5. Assess completeness and condition
Accepted C Grade RAM should remain substantially complete. Minor normal handling marks, label residue, light oxidation, or ordinary dust may be acceptable, but the exact buying decision depends on the inspection standard.
Modules may be downgraded or refused when they have:
Missing or intentionally removed memory chips
Cut, shortened, or heavily damaged contact fingers
Broken or severely cracked PCBs
Serious fire or heat damage
Heavy corrosion, mud, oil, or hazardous contamination
Excessive attached metal or non-memory material
Deliberate alteration that changes the original material content
Brand names such as Samsung, SK hynix, Micron, Kingston, Elpida, Nanya, or other manufacturers do not independently determine the grade. Model labels can assist with identification, but the physical construction and recoverable-material category remain decisive.
Recoverable Materials, Buying Standards, and Handling
RAM C Grade should be stored, packed, and shipped in a way that preserves the modules and allows efficient inspection. Sellers should keep C Grade RAM separated from higher and lower grades. Mixing several grades, unknown memory boards, metal-covered modules, and damaged RAM in the same container increases sorting time and can result in the shipment being downgraded or settled according to the lowest confirmed category.
The principal recoverable materials include:
Gold: Thin contact finishes and possible microscopic bonding material inside semiconductor packages
Copper: Internal PCB layers, tracks, pads, and conductive structures
Silver: Potentially present in certain solder or component materials
Palladium: May occur in small quantities in selected electronic components
Nickel: Commonly used as a barrier layer beneath contact finishes
Tin and solder alloys: Found at component joints and surface-mounted connections
Actual recovery varies between module generations and manufacturers. The visible gold color does not represent solid gold, and a RAM module should never be priced by appearance alone.
For proper handling, sellers should:
Keep RAM C Grade dry and free from contamination.
Remove unrelated plastic packaging, steel brackets, and loose debris.
Avoid cutting the modules or removing IC chips.
Separate severely damaged or burned material before delivery.
Keep higher-grade modules in clearly labeled containers.
Send clear photographs of both sides when requesting remote identification.
Use representative photos when submitting a large mixed lot.
Removing memory chips or trimming the gold fingers reduces the recoverable value and may make the material unacceptable under normal RAM purchasing standards.
Comparison and Official Ohata Classification
RAM C Grade should be distinguished from adjacent grades by evaluating the complete construction of the module.
Grade comparison | General identification principle |
|---|---|
Higher grades | Usually meet higher-value construction and material-density criteria under the Ohata standard. They must be separated to receive the appropriate higher price. |
RAM C Grade | Meets the defined C Grade combination of memory-chip configuration, PCB construction, contacts, completeness, and acceptable physical condition. |
Lower grades | Generally have a lower-value construction, reduced recoverable content, incomplete components, excessive non-target material, or conditions that do not qualify for C Grade. |
Downgraded or rejected RAM | May include stripped, broken, burned, heavily contaminated, severely corroded, or materially altered modules. |
The most reliable distinction is therefore not “old versus new” or “high capacity versus low capacity.” Inspectors must compare IC package style, component density, PCB design, contact construction, attached materials, and physical condition with the official Ohata reference standard.
For example, a high-capacity modern module may still belong to a lower recycling category if its recoverable-material concentration is limited. Conversely, an older module may qualify for a higher category when its construction contains a more valuable combination of components and precious-metal-bearing materials.
The final classification principle is straightforward:
Any RAM module that fully meets the Ohata RAM C Grade inspection standard is purchased at the RAM C Grade price, regardless of its brand, model, capacity, speed, or original application.
When a shipment contains different grades, the modules should be sorted before weighing. If higher-grade, C Grade, and lower-grade RAM are mixed together, Ohata may downgrade the lot because additional classification work is required and the material composition cannot be accurately confirmed at the receiving stage.
Official grading is completed after physical inspection. Photographs and model numbers provide useful preliminary information, but the final RAM C Grade determination depends on the actual construction, completeness, cleanliness, and recoverable-material characteristics of the delivered modules.
Learn more about Ohata's RAM recycling classifications
RAM-S(Gold finer server RAM) Grade
RAM-A(Gold finer desktop and laptop RAM) Grade
RAM-B(shelded/silver edge/trimmed RAM) Grade
FAQ
- 1. What is today’s price for RAM-D(mix and damaged RAM) Grade buying?
- As of Aug 06,2026, Ohata Shoji America Inc., (Seattle, WA, United States) is purchasing RAM-D(mix and damaged RAM) Grade buying at 2.20 (USD/lb). We provide competitive scrap prices in Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Tukwila, Kent, SeaTac, Tacoma, Everett, and surrounding communities.
- 2. Q: What types of brass do you accept, and do they need to be pre-sorted?
- A: We accept a wide variety of brass scrap, including Yellow Brass, Red Brass, Semi-Red Brass, Brass Turnings, Brass Solids (like valves and fixtures), and even Brass Shell Casings. While we can handle mixed loads, separating your brass into different types beforehand will always result in the highest price per pound. If you bring in a mixed load, our trained staff will separate and grade the material on-site, and it will be priced accordingly. We recommend keeping high-value alloys like Red Brass (which has a higher copper content) separate from common Yellow Brass.
- 3. What is Ohata RAM C Grade?
- Ohata RAM C Grade is a recycling classification for memory modules that meet the official C Grade requirements for PCB construction, IC configuration, contact fingers, completeness, material composition, and physical condition.
- 4. What types of memory can qualify as RAM C Grade?
- Desktop DIMMs, laptop SO-DIMMs, server memory, and certain older or proprietary memory modules may qualify. Classification depends on physical construction and recoverable-material characteristics—not merely the memory type or generation.
- 5. What role does AI play in your e-commerce platform?
- We use AI to run our dynamic digital valuation engines, matching global commodity markets to give users instant, transparent pricing.
- 6. Do you purchase high-performance AI hardware?
- Yes, we specialize in the online procurement and data-secure decommissioning of complex AI servers, GPUs, and high-capacity storage.
- 7. How do you handle non-functional or broken hardware?
- Items that cannot be refurbished are routed to our automated material lines for high-yield precious metal resource recovery.
- 8. Q: How is the price for my brass scrap determined, and when will I be paid?
- A: The price we offer for your brass scrap is primarily determined by two factors: the current market price of copper and zinc (the main components of brass), and the specific alloy/grade of the brass you are selling (e.g., Red Brass is typically worth more than Yellow Brass). We use calibrated scales certified by the state to ensure accurate weight. Payment is typically issued immediately upon completion of grading and weighing. We offer several payment methods, including cash, company check, or electronic transfer (ACH), depending on the transaction size and your preference.
- 9. Q: Are there any specific materials or contaminants that will cause my brass scrap to be rejected or downgraded?
- A: Yes, contaminants must be minimized to ensure the best price. The most common downgrading contaminants include: Excessive Iron/Steel: Any ferrous metal attached (e.g., steel stems in brass valves, bolts). Non-Metallics: Rubber, plastic, wood, or heavy dirt/oil. Sealed Containers: Closed items like fire extinguishers or compressed gas cylinders must be cut open and emptied for safety. Aluminum Bronze: This alloy looks similar to yellow brass but is priced differently. We strongly advise sellers to remove non-brass attachments. Any significant contamination will be deducted from the total weight or may result in a lower "unclean" price per pound.
- 10. Q: I have a large industrial quantity of brass turnings. Do you offer pickup services or require specific preparation?
- A: For large industrial quantities, especially Brass Turnings (shavings/chips from machining), we are happy to discuss scheduled container drop-off and pickup services at your facility. This saves you transport time and labor. Regarding preparation, turnings should be as dry and free of cutting fluids/coolants as possible. Excessive oil or water will be considered a contaminant and reduce the net weight and price. If the turnings are extremely oily or "wet," they may be subject to a "sludge" deduction or a significantly lower price grade.
- 11. Q: Do I need any specific identification or documentation to sell scrap brass to your company?
- A: Yes, for compliance with state and local regulations regarding scrap metal transactions, all sellers must provide valid identification. You must present a current, government-issued photo ID (e.g., Driver's License or State ID). For certain high-value transactions or bulk commercial sales, we may require additional documentation, such as a Tax ID (EIN) for businesses or proof of ownership for large items like utility brass. We keep records of all transactions as mandated by law.
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